Introduction
Mental health disorders are some of the significant problems in the United States, with half of the population being at risk of being diagnosed at some point in their lives. The essence of Healthy People 2030 is to provide a network that focuses on factors to prevent, screen, and assess mental health disorders. The essay explores some of the objectives of Healthy People 2030 within my community while elaborating on the connection between physical and psychological health, which correlates with the explanation of Trauma-Informed Care.
Addressing Community Health Goals
Objective 1: MHMD-04
The first goal relates to the need to increase the proportion of adults who are suffering from severe mental illness and are getting treatment. The objective, MHMD-04, focuses on improving people’s access to various treatment forms, especially those with serious mental illnesses (Healthy People 2030, 2020a). Hence, the goal is specific to my community, given the recorded prevalence of mental health services.
Many people have severe mental problems and tend to face specific barriers during their health-seeking attempts. Some of the challenges these people face include a lack of awareness of the availability of such services at hospitals. There is also a lack of mismanagement in diagnosing and providing early intervention for similar events, leaving these people much worse off than when they came for treatment (Healthy People 2030, 2020a). The combined effects of these factors contribute to the increased health disparities in my community.
The most recent data explores the fact that there has been a relative increase in the number of adults who are seeking help for serious mental health illnesses. The data, as per the results from 2019, points out that 64.1% of the adults who are eighteen years and above and had been diagnosed with severe mental illnesses received treatment within the period (Healthy People 2030, 2020a). The target of 68.8% was not achieved, due to the primary goal of encouraging people in my community to seek help from relevant health centers (Healthy People 2030, 2020a). These would improve living standards within the community and enhance people’s overall quality of life.
Objective 2: MHMD-07
The second objective, which has been and remains a problem within my community, relates to MHMD-07. The goal suggests that there is a need to increase the number of people who get treatment for their both substance use and mental health disorders (Healthy People 2030, 2020b). This objective focuses on having enhanced access to treatment for people who are suffering from substance use and mental health disorders.
The reason why I chose this objective resonates with the fact that my community coexists with the problem related to substance use and mental health issues, which tend to exacerbate the challenges that they face, especially those directly affected. The particular objective becomes a major priority, making it the chosen one because it addresses both prospects simultaneously, leading to an improved overall mental health outcome. The Healthy People 2030 baseline rate for the population involved is 3.4 percent among adults aged 18 and over (Healthy People 2030, 2020b). These individuals tend to be deeply entrenched in the co-occurring problems related to substance use disorder and mental health conditions.
Personal Attempt to Help Meet the Goals
The essence of being a nurse practitioner in my community is that it positions me to help achieve these two goals. Some ways I can help and get involved include actively participating in community outreach programs. These initiatives would help increase the creation of facilities that are present.
The aim is to reduce the stigma young adults may experience when seeking help by explaining the importance of treatment procedures. It would also be crucial to collaborate with local mental health organizations to establish several support networks accessible to people. The project also means that I will increase the level of advocating for increased funding when dealing with the mental health services that provide increased access to treatment for these people with serious mental illnesses.
Interconnectedness of Physical and Mental Health
Mental and physical health are closely connected, with this connection profoundly influencing both. There are specific ways a person’s physical health can affect their mental well-being. There is a direct effect when it comes to physical health negatively affecting mental health-related problems.
Cases such as chronic illnesses could sometimes lead to increased stress levels, which occur with depression and anxiety. As a result, these people find themselves facing the burden of dealing with the management of physical ailments, which contributes to the development of their mental health challenges (Xiang et al., 2020). The overall effect is a reduction in their quality of life as they get submerged into a depression that drains them of all their energy to the extent that they cannot bring themselves to be involved in any activity.
However, mental health also has a dynamic effect on the physical health of people. The cognitive problems tend to manifest as physical symptoms. Some conditions include chronic stress and sometimes untreated mental health issues, which lead to the development of certain life-threatening diseases (Xiang et al., 2020). These mental health problems thus become termed as risk factors for the development of cases like cardiovascular problems and an immune system that is severely weakened. In other scenarios, people tend to exacerbate their pre-existing physical diseases due to the constant stress and related states of anxiety, depression, and anger.
One of the known cases that can be included in this concept between physical health and mental health issues is the interrelation between depression and cardiovascular conditions. Depression stands to be one of the most prevalent mental health problems. The people who tend to experience depression in a majority of cases are diagnosed with changes related to their blood pressure, heart rate, and, in several other instances, inflammatory responses (Khandaker et al., 2019). The more time these individuals have before they seek help, hence remaining untreated, the more they increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, with most cases related to poor prognosis in coronary heart syndrome. This correlation highlights the relationship between people’s mental and physical well-being.
Trauma Informed Care
There needs to be a proper understanding of the Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) concept. It recognizes the fact that there is a widespread impact that trauma has on individuals across the world and in a majority of age groups. An apparent comprehension of the trauma would help emphasize the need to have an environment created that deals with trust, safety, and the empowerment of people, particularly those who are dealing with trauma. The prospect of Trauma-Informed Care is grounded in the pillars of collaboration, understanding, resilience, and acknowledgment of the prevalence of trauma (Bargeman et al., 2020). These lead to in-depth knowledge of the long-term effects that tend to be associated with trauma.
My position as a nurse enables me to explore the potential of Trauma-Informed Care in the vital care of children whose cases have been impacted at such young ages. One way I implement the care undertakings is by creating a safe space where they feel supported, thereby allowing them to communicate their problems. The environment created ensures that I am sensitive to potential triggers, fostering prospects for open communication. It is, hence, considerate that I build trust, which is paramount to establishing a predictable routine for the provision of a sense of security among the children affected by trauma.
While assisting a child who has been placed under my care and happens to have experienced trauma, I tend to approach the matter with much empathy while ensuring that I actively listen to all their concerns. I would ensure that I validate all their feelings, making them feel they belong and that someone cares about them. The use of age-appropriate language would be a key factor while collaborating with the multidisciplinary team to provide a comprehensive treatment plan for the child’s mental and physical health.
Conclusion
It, therefore, becomes a key factor for a nurse to ensure that the community health objectives are addressed, incorporating active participation. Such activities would involve education, advocacy, and other community initiatives. Recognizing the interconnected nature of physical and mental health is crucial for holistic care. Implementing Trauma-Informed Care is also a crucial strategy for nurses when working with individuals affected, especially children.
References
Bargeman, M., Smith, S., & Wekerle, C. (2020). Trauma-informed care as a rights-based ‘standard of care’: A critical review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 119, 104762.
Healthy People 2030. (2020a). Increase the proportion of adults with serious mental illness who get treatment — MHMD04 – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov. Health.gov.
Healthy People 2030. (2020b). Increase the proportion of people with substance use and mental health disorders who get treatment for both — MHMD07. – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov. Health.gov.
Khandaker, G. M., Zuber, V., Rees, J. M. B., Carvalho, L., Mason, A. M., Foley, C. N., Gkatzionis, A., Jones, P. B., & Burgess, S. (2019). Shared mechanisms between coronary heart disease and depression: Findings from a large UK general population-based cohort. Molecular Psychiatry.
Xiang, M.-Q., Tan, X.-M., Sun, J., Yang, H.-Y., Zhao, X.-P., Liu, L., Hou, X.-H., & Hu, M. (2020). Relationship of physical activity with anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese college students during the COVID-19 outbreak. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
